Retainer for a sponge rubber mop

Abstract

A sponge mop retainer is attached to the end of a handle with a sponge member removably secured within the retainer. The retainer keeps the sponge member from rolling out when the mop is in use by tending to adhere to a surface while it allows the sponge member to be removed when the sponge member is worn out or dirty. The sponge member has four opposed longitudinal slits, one on each of four opposed surfaces. The retainer has a top wall and two side walls with the bottom edges of the two side walls having flanges which project inwardly, substantially toward one another. The free edges of each of the flanges have enlargements, substantially along their length, of a greater thickness than the thickness of the flanges which are engaged in two of the opposed slits to oppose movement of the sponge member away from the retainer. The enlargements, which may be in the form of barbs, enable the sponge member to withstand the friction forces involving in cleaning a surface without becoming disengaged from the retainer.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is: 
     
       1. In a sponge mop having a sponge member with at least two opposed longitudinal surfaces, each of said surfaces having a longitudinal outwardly opening slit, the slits lying generally in the same plane, a sponge retaining member having an integrally formed generally channeled-shaped structure opening downwardly and having a top and side walls, the side walls terminating adjacent their bottom edges in inwardly extending flanges extending substantially perpendicular to said side walls, said flanges having a first thickness and free inner edges, said slits having a substantially constant width less than said first thickness, said flanges engaged within a pair of said opposed slits of the sponge member to engage the sponge member with the free inner edges substantially buried in the sponge member, the improvement comprising: said free inner edges having enlargement means substantially along substantially the entire length thereof of greater thickness than the flanges substantially surrounded by said sponge member for resisting withdrawal of the flanges from said slits.   
     
     
       2. In a sponge mop as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said enlargement means include means directed laterally and having structure opposing movement of said flanges away from said slits.   
     
     
       3. In a sponge mop as claimed in claim 1 further including: handle means connected to said sponge retaining member, said handle means disposed substantially transverse to said free edges of said flanges.   
     
     
       4. In a sponge mop as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said enlargement means have a substantially wedge-shaped cross section with a pointed edge of each of said wedges opposing one another and each wedge having at least one upstanding rearward flange engaged internally within said slits so as to oppose movement of said sponge member away from said retaining member.   
     
     
       5. In a sponge mop as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said enlargement means have a substantially circular cross section.   
     
     
       6. A sponge retaining member, adapted to retain a sponge member having at least two opposed longitudinal surfaces with longitudinal outwardly opening slits, the slits lying generally in the same plane, said retaining member having an integrally formed generally channeled-shaped structure opening downwardly and having a top and side walls, the side walls terminating adjacent their bottom edges in upwardly extending substantially perpendicular flanges having a first thickness, said flanges having free inner edges, said slits having a substantially constant width less than said first thickness, said flanges adapted to engage in said sponge member slits, the improvement comprising: said flange free inner edges having enlargement means along substantially the entire length thereof of a second thickness greater than said first thickness and adapted to resist withdrawal of a sponge member from said retainer, said enlargement means have a substantially wedge-shaped cross section with a pointed edge of each of said wedges opposing one another and each wedge having at least one upstanding rearward flange adapted to be engaged internally within said slits to oppose movement of said flanges away from said slits; and handle means connected to said sponge retaining member, said handle means disposed substantially transverse to said free edges of said flanges.